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When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life -- like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family's future resting on... more » her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition -- Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.« less

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I absolutely loved this book. Beautifully written debut effort. The immigrant story and Kimberly's journey resonated with me on so many levels. My father, too, worked in a factory as a child. We, too, lived in poverty in NYC in cold water flats barely scraping by. I, too, excelled in school and was offered a full scholarship to a prestigious preparatory school. But, unlike Kimberly, I didn't grab the opportunity. I admired Kimberly's persistance and dedication as she struggles to carve a new life for herself and her mother through her hard work and study. I cheered for her, cried for her and will never forget her story. I look forward to Ms. Kwok's next effort with anticipation. Very highly recommended!

Loved, loved, loved this book! As an avid reader, I had a feeling that this book would turn out the way it did, except it managed to exceed my expectations! It is a beautiful story, filled with so many emotions and life lessons. I have learned that no matter what cards you have been dealt, nothing is off limits when have the determination to succeed. I highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed!

I found this story to be tragic and up lifting at the same time. The story is told by Kim, a young Chinese girl, who comes to the US with her mother, they end up working in her Aunt's factory, which is nothing more than a sweat shop. Kim turns out to be an amazingly smart girl, and through her hard work an amazing story is told.

Girl in Translation is the coming-of-age story of Kimberly Chang, who emigrates with her mother from Hong Kong to New York. Author Jean Kwok successfully transports the reader to the dusty, oppressive sweatshop and heatless, bug-infested apartment where Kimberly and her mother work and live. Thanks to her superior intelligence and hard work, Kimberly overcomes the obstacles and isolation she faces in school and slowly climbs out from extreme poverty to successful adulthood, but not without heartbreaking choices. Knowing that Kwok had similar life experiences added to the profoundness of this debut novel.

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One of the best books I have read in a while. Very interesting, well writen, paced well. You just can't stop reading it. Outstanding first novel. Kimberly and Ma are written are so well you feel like you know them by the end of the book. Highly recommend